placeholder image

Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports


Kyle Shanahan says he doesn’t need to rehash 4th-down mistake vs. Bears with Nick Mullens

Dec 24, 2018 at 12:58 PM--


Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
San Francisco 49ers fans know quarterback Nick Mullens didn't make the correct call on the last offensive play of Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears. Mullens knows he made the wrong decision on that fourth-down play too. Head coach Kyle Shanahan knows it was a mistake and that his quarterback understands the situation.

Mullens should have tried to run for the first down rather than throw the football. The 49ers ended up losing the game 14-9.

With everyone on the same page, Shanahan told reporters via a conference call on Monday that he doesn't need to rehash the situation with his young quarterback.

"We'll watch it together so we can go over it," Shanahan said. "You don't have to rehash it very hard when you're dealing with a smart, honest dude who keeps it real and will admit it to you. Nick knows what he missed. By the time he came to the sidelines when I asked him, he already knew. Again, that's just part of playing the position, and it's tough.

"Nick made a lot of plays yesterday. A number of them, when he broke the pocket looking for a big play instead of looking to run. That's one of the reasons he hit Kittle on a big one going across the field. That's the one when he hit Kittle in the end zone, which I definitely think should have been [pass interference]. But it gave us a chance for a touchdown.

"And then he got out at the end, and he broke (the pocket). He was not really thinking about running. He had throwing in his mind, and he sees someone down the field. Obviously, he made the wrong decision, and he knew that before having to watch the tape. He knew that by the time he got to the sideline.

"You learn from it and hopefully next time, if he's in that situation, he'll run it. Also, if [Marquise Goodwin] is a little more open and he throws it and 'Quise catches that ball, and we win the game, I know we're all going to be pretty happy with him too. You've got to take some of the good with the bad. He knows that he missed that. We all know he missed it. Hopefully, next time in that situation, he'll make the right decision."

Mullens said after the game that he knew the decision was the incorrect one as soon as the football left his hands.

"If you look at the film or whatever, I mean I stood there for 30 seconds just understanding what I've just did, and how big of a mistake it was," Mullens said.

As Shanahan explained, Mullens was merely trying to make a play to help the 49ers win the game.

"You see Marquise down the field (and) I just wanted to give him a chance for a big play," he added.

Chalk it up to yet another learning experience for the second-year quarterback who hopes to turn things around during Sunday's finale against the Los Angeles Rams. Mullens, who is now 3-4 as a starter, can get back to .500 with an upset victory over the division rival.

The 49ers are treating this week like one following a Monday night game. Players have Monday off to be with their families on Christmas Eve, and they always have Tuesday off. The team will get back to work on Wednesday while the coaching staff uses Monday to work on its final game plan of the season.



Facebook Comments



More San Francisco 49ers News


placeholder image

Kyle Shanahan explains why 49ers promoted Nick Sorensen to defensive coordinator

By David Bonilla
Mar 26

After Steve Wilks's dismissal, the San Francisco 49ers had several options for their vacant defensive coordinator position. Although former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley was considered for the role, he ultimately joined the coaching staff as the assistant head coach under head coach Kyle Shanahan. He will focus on game plan preparations while offering his experience to the team. Nick Sorensen, the team's defensive pass game specialist, was awarded the defensive coordinator position. Shanahan opted for an internal candidate, valuing Sorensen's familiarity with the staff and the defensive system. When asked what qualities Sorensen demonstrated to prove he's ready to call plays for the defense, Shanahan explained, "He's worked with a lot of people


placeholder image

Andy Reid praises 49ers' Brock Purdy, has advice for Kyle Shanahan

By David Bonilla
Mar 25

Super Bowl-winning head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs witnessed all he needed from Brock Purdy last season to assure him that the San Francisco 49ers are in capable hands at the quarterback position. Purdy was an MVP nominee in 2023 and had his 49ers just a play or two away from clinching a Super Bowl victory away from the Chiefs. Unfortunately, for Purdy and the 49ers, Reid and his own quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, widely regarded as the best in the game today, dashed their Super Bowl dreams in overtime last month. According to NBC Sports Bay Area, speaking at the NFL owners meetings on Monday, Reid stated, "Yeah, I


placeholder image

Kyle Shanahan: 49ers hope to keep Brandon Aiyuk, Brock Purdy together

By David Bonilla
Mar 26

Last week, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan ran into his wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk, while on vacation in Cabo San Lucas. "He was randomly at our hotel. I don't think he wanted to be," the coach shared on Tuesday while speaking to reporters at the NFL owners meetings. The 49ers are currently negotiating a long-term extension with Aiyuk to ensure he remains with the team for the foreseeable future. However, with it only being March, it's challenging to predict how everything will unfold. Typically, under the leadership of Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, the 49ers have reached agreements with their star players closer to training camp in July. Lynch stated yesterday that the


placeholder image

Kyle Shanahan's insights on 49ers QB Brock Purdy's rise

By David Bonilla
Mar 27

In addition to discussing his quarterback, Brock Purdy, with reporters on Tuesday, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan also sat down with NFL Network's Steve Wyche during the NFL owners meetings. Purdy's NFL journey has been captivating. The quarterback embarked on his professional career buried on the 49ers' depth chart after being selected with the final overall draft pick in 2022. His opportunity to showcase his ability to play in the NFL came only after the team suffered injuries to two quarterbacks. Purdy flourished, leading the team to the NFC Championship Game during his rookie season and to the Super Bowl last season. His rise underscores the


Latest

Trending News

Share 49ersWebzone